NBA roundup: Celtics back on track with Tatum triple-double, Nuggets return to top

Dallas, Texas - Jayson Tatum registered his second career triple-double in the NBA as the Boston Celtics ended the Dallas Mavericks' seven-game winning streak with a 124-95 victory on Thursday.

Jayson Tatum registered his second career triple-double as the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks.
Jayson Tatum registered his second career triple-double as the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks.  © USA TODAY Sports

Tatum finished the game with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus one steal and two blocks. The MVP candidate shot eight-of-22 from the field and two-of-eight from beyond the arc, scoring 11-of-12 from the stripe.

The Celtics improved to 27-12 with their merciless display, which comes amid a tough stretch for the Eastern Conference leaders, who had dropped seven of their past 12 games, including giving up 150 points last game to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Luka Dončić was kept to only 23 points for the Mavs, after a five-game run in which he averaged 44.5 points. The Slovenian, who shot none-of-six from three-point range, was benched in the fourth quarter amid the blowout.

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Tatum also struggled from beyond the arc, but Marcus Smart made up for it with four-of-nine triples in his 15 points, while Malcolm Brogdon hit three-of-five three-pointers in his 15 points off the bench.

Jaylen Brown scored 19 points with two three-pointers with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Around the league: Nuggets rout Clippers, Markkanen helps Jazz snap their skid

Jamal Murray top-scored for the Denver Nuggets with 18 points in their win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jamal Murray top-scored for the Denver Nuggets with 18 points in their win over the Los Angeles Clippers.  © USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets re-claimed top spot in the Western Conference with a 122-91 domination of the Los Angeles Clippers, who slumped to their fourth straight defeat.

The Nuggets, who secured their 10th straight home win, prevailed without a great contribution from MVP Nikola Jokić, who managed 12 points with six rebounds and nine assists.

Jamal Murray top-scored with 18 points, including four three-pointers for Denver, who led by as much as 43 points. The Clippers shuffled their deck ahead of a back-to-back with Kawhi Leonard scoring six points in 18 minutes.

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NBA NBA's Joel Embiid to undergo left knee procedure

The Nuggets lead the west with a 25-13 record ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, also 25-13, who won 123-115 over the Orlando Magic with Ja Morant scoring 32 points.

Meanwhile, Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 49 points as the Utah Jazz snapped their five-game skid with a 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Markkanen posted 18 points in the first quarter on his way to equaling the 15th highest single-game scoring performance this season.

The Finnish forward sparked a 14-0 fourth-quarter run which put the game to bed. Jalen Green scored 30 points for Houston, while Kevin Porter Jr added 23.

Cover photo: Collage: USA TODAY Sports

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